Big Ten Network : Homepage Top Stories

Purdue coach adds to Rich Rodriguez's misery

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:16:00 +0000

ANN ARBOR, Mich.(AP) Michigan's Rich Rodriguez says Purdue coach Danny Hope blamed him for getting one of his players suspended. Rodriguez says Hope introduced him to guard Zach Reckman after the Boilermakers' 38-36 win Saturday and said, "Thanks Coach, we appreciate what you did.'' Reckman was suspended for a game because of a late hit against Northern Illinois in September. Rodriguez said on the same day he would ask the Big Ten to punish non-football acts after seeing a Big Ten player hit an opponent with a forearm on TV. Michigan linebacker Jonas Mouton was suspended for punching a Notre Dame player the previous week. Hope issued a statement through school spokesman Tom Schott, saying his conversation with Rodriguez would remain between them.

Illini pressure Weber, take down Gophers

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:01:00 +0000

MINNEAPOLIS -- Terry Hawthorne returned an interception for a touchdown and Clay Nurse had four of Illinois' eight sacks to lead the Illini to a 35-32 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. Jacob Charest threw for 185 yards and a touchdown after replacing Juice Williams, who left in the first quarter with an injured left ankle. Illinois (3-6, 2-5 Big Ten) led 28-7 at halftime. Jon Hoese scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Minnesota (5-5, 3-4). Gophers linebacker Keanon Cooper blocked a punt that Ben Kuznia scooped up for a score to pull Minnesota within three points with 3 minutes to play. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and the Gophers couldn't overcome a dreadful first half from quarterback Adam Weber. After throwing for 416 yards and five TDs in a breakout game against Michigan State last week, Weber completed 5 of 17 passes for 74 yards with a fumble and the interception returned for a score in the first half against Illinois. He finished 14 of 31 for 221 yards. The blunders, and a furious pass rush, helped Illinois compensate for the loss of Williams. It's been a long and difficult senior season for Williams, who has never been able to recapture the magic that helped him lead the Illini to the Rose Bowl during his sophomore year. He finally had a breakout game last week with 220 total yards in a 31-13 win over Michigan and looked sharp early against Minnesota. He completed all five of his passes, including a 22-yard TD pass to Jeff Cumberland on the opening drive to get the Illini rolling. But he injured his left ankle and fumbled during a run later in the first quarter and watched the rest of the game on crutches from the sideline. Weber probably wishes he could have joined him. The Gophers quarterback also broke out of a season-long slump last week in a win over Michigan State. He followed that with a brutal first half against Illinois, missing several wide-open receivers and taking too many sacks after not getting rid of the ball quickly enough, drawing boos from the home crowd. Weber fumbled on a bad exchange with DeLeon Eskridge in Illinois territory and telegraphed a throw to Hoese near the sidelines in the first quarter. Hawthorne, who chased down Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree and prevented a touchdown last week, read Weber's eyes and stepped in front of the pass. He returned the interception 44 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter. Minnesota cut the lead to 28-25 on Hoese's second score of the game. But Charest threw a 4-yard TD pass to Arrelious Benn on the next possession.

No. 24 Wisconsin holds off late Indiana rally

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:06:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Wisconsin followed the same old script to grind down Indiana. John Clay ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, Montee Ball scored two TDs and the Badgers held off the Hoosiers' fourth-quarter rally for a 31-28 victory Saturday. The Badgers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) have now won two straight and still have not lost to an unranked team this season. Indiana's fading bowl hopes took another hit. The Hoosiers (4-6, 1-5) must now win their final two games -- at No. 11 Penn State and home against rival Purdue -- to become eligible. They have lost three straight and six of seven. A year after having three 100-yard runners and 441 yards on the ground in Bloomington, Wisconsin went right back to work. Clay produced all of his numbers in the first half, when the Badgers ran for 196 yards. Clay didn't touch the ball in the second half, working out on a bike on the sideline, despite needing 27 yards to become the Big Ten's first 1,000-yard runner this season. Instead, Ball took over the workload. He finished with 27 carries for 115 yards and his 3-yard TD run with 8:18 to go was the decisive score. Wisconsin finished with 294 yards on the ground -- giving them 735 yards rushing in the last two games against Indiana. Quarterback Scott Tolzien was 11 of 20 for 194 yards with one TD, and Nick Toon caught five passes for 123 yards. But somehow Indiana continued to hang around. After trailing 24-14 at halftime, Terrance Turner caught a 6-yard TD pass to make it 24-21 early in the fourth quarter. It became the first official touchdown of Turner's career after he had one taken away by replay last week at Iowa. Bell answered with his second scoring run Saturday to make it 31-21, and then Indiana closed to 31-28 when Trea Burgess scored on a 2-yard TD run with 4:02 to go. But Indiana kicked deep and never got the ball back. Ben Chappell was 25 of 35 for 323 yards with three TDs and one interception for Indiana. Tandon Doss caught six passes for 92 yards and two TDs, and the Hoosiers lost top running back Darius Willis with what appeared to be a right leg injury early in the second half. Wisconsin played most of the game without starting right tackle John Oglesby after he appeared to hurt his left leg.

Michigan State thrashes Western Michigan

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:58:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Little-used Ashton Leggett ran for 110 yards and four touchdowns and Kirk Cousins threw for a career-high 353 yards and two scores to lead Michigan State past Western Michigan 49-14 on Saturday in a rare November non-conference matchup for the Spartans. The win kept Michigan State's bowl hopes alive and introduced yet another potential lead running back in Leggett, a sophomore who had one carry and zero yards coming into the game. On his first rush Saturday -- on a third-and-1 less than 90 seconds into the game -- Leggett took one step toward a crowded line, bounced it outside and was gone, sprinting 71 yards down the left sideline for a score. He added short TD runs in the first and second quarters. Sandwiched in between, Cousins connected with Garrett Celek and Keshawn Martin on 13- and 48-yard scoring strikes. At the end of the first half, Michigan State led 35-0, had forced seven Western punts and outgained the Broncos 358-36. The Spartans (5-5) hadn't played a non-conference opponent in November since 1966 against Notre Dame. The win snapped a two-game losing skid and gave Michigan State some potential momentum heading into the season's final two games -- at Purdue next week and home against No. 11 Penn State on Nov. 21. Western (4-6) didn't do itself any favors, getting called three times for roughing the passer in the first quarter and dropping more than a few passes. One bright spot for the Broncos was Brandon West, who set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for career kickoff return yardage, passing SMU's Jessie Henderson. The senior opened the second half with an 80-yard touchdown run through a gaping hole in the middle of the Michigan State defensive line. Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson also was a record-setter, becoming the school's all-time leader in extra points made. The Spartans have used a number of running backs this season, using a back-by-committee approach to fill the sizable void left by the departure of Javon Ringer, who moved on to the NFL. Thanks to injuries and dismissals, Leggett and freshman Edwin Baker started out as the featured backs on Saturday, and Leggett took advantage, hitting the century mark by halftime. Leggett added a 13-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to make it 42-14. He was the first Spartan to run for 100 yards in a game since Ringer did it last year. Fellow sophomore QB Keith Nichol took some snaps, but Cousins got the bulk of the work, completing 22 of 25 passes and no interceptions. Nichol threw a 7-yard scoring pass to Dion Sims with about six minutes to play in the game. For Western, it was a forgettable performance from a program accustomed to playing tough against the big boys. The Broncos had beaten a team from a Bowl Championship Series conference in each of the previous three seasons. Senior Tim Hiller, Western's career leader in TD passes and completions, had an off day, going 15 of 37 for a season-low 111 yards. He wasn't intercepted, though, and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Blake Hammond on the first play of the fourth quarter. Michigan State avoided losing at home to a second in-state Mid-American school this season. Central Michigan beat the Spartans 29-27 on Sept. 12.

OSU tops Michigan, takes Big Ten crown

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio – David Tiemstra scored in the 45th minute of action and the Ohio State men's soccer team held on for a 1-0 win over Michigan and the Big Ten Championship Saturday night at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in front of season-high 1,081 fans. With their first outright regular-season title in program history, the Buckeyes (10-4-4, 4-2-0 Big Ten) earn the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament next week in Bloomington, Ind., and will face the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed game. "The effort of our team tonight was tremendous," head coach John Bluem said. "The organization and the timely goal by David Tiemstra were just fantastic. I am just real proud of the guys; they have never given up this year, even though we have kind of had a roller coaster type of season." Tiemstra's goal, his first of the season, came with two seconds remaining in the first half off a corner kick by Eric Shrigley. Shrigley played the ball from the left corner across the goal box where Chris Gomez kept it from going out of bounds by flicking it out to Tiemstra at the top of the goal box. The sophomore from Clarendon Hills, Ill., then shot it over the head of Michigan (10-6-1, 2-4-0) goalkeeper Chris Blais and into the upper left corner of the net. "I still have the chills," Tiemstra said after the game. "The rest of the game I just had the chills. When you don't have a lot of energy left at the end of the game, that just kept me … I mean, it's unbelievable. The goal came on the Buckeyes' eighth shot of the half after nearly 45 minutes of bombarding the Wolverine defense. From the opening whistle, Ohio State controlled play offensively and made several solid runs but sent all seven of the ensuing shots wide. More pressure came in the second period as Ohio State produced nine shots and continued to push forward on the attack. Michigan fought back, however, and came up with several close opportunities from the likes of Mauro Fuzetti and Justin Heram that were squelched by the Buckeye defense and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Matt Lampson. Lampson, a native of nearby Hilliard, Ohio, strengthened his bid for Big Ten Freshman of the Year by finishing the night with a career-high eight saves, including five in the second half, and three in the final 10 minutes alone, against Michigan's 10 second-half shots. After the all-around team effort, the magnitude of the win was not lost on anyone. "I am pretty speechless," junior captain Matt Gold said. "I think I almost broke down in tears the last 30 seconds. Like I started hyperventilating. I have never experienced that before. It's just a sweet, sweet feeling." The Buckeyes took home a share of the 2004 Big Ten title and won the tournament in 2000 and 2007. They will begin play for their third tourney title Friday in the conference semifinals. Stay tuned to OhioStateBuckeyes.com for more information.

Top-ranked Penn State sweeps Iowa

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:54:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa - In front of a record volleyball crowd of 2,802 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team defeated Iowa, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-13). The Nittany Lions are now in sole possession of third place in the NCAA record books for consecutive wins with 90. Senior Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) led the Nittany Lions with 12 kills and junior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) was the only other Penn Stater with double-digit kils with 11. Junior Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) finished third on the team with nine kills, but had a team-best .533 attack percentage. She also led the squad with five total blocks. Junior Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) registered 15 digs in the match and senior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) paced the Penn State offense with 35 assists. The Nittany Lions led the way in all statistical categories finishing the night with 42 kills, 40 assists, six aces, 48 digs and 10.0 total team blocks. Penn State posted a .319 hitting percentage against the Hawkeyes. Iowa totaled 35 kills, 29 assists, 32 digs and just 4.0 total team blocks. Hodge opened the match for Penn State with a kill and a PSU block gave the Nittany Lions an early 2-0 lead. The Hawkeyes answered back with two kills to tie the set, but Hodge tallied another to put the Nittany Lions back in the lead. After Iowa tied Penn State a second time at 3-3, Brown gave PSU the lead for good with a back row kill. The Hawkeyes remained close until a kill from junior Fatima Balza (Merida, Venezuela) and a PSU block followed by an ace put Penn State ahead, 8-4. Despite a Penn State error, a Dorton kill kept the Nittany Lions up by four, 9-5. By midpoint of the set Penn State led by seven, 15-8. The Hawkeyes came within five, 17-12, thanks to a kill by Mallory Husz. However, the Nittany Lions were soon within four points of a first set win after back-to-back kills from Wilson. A Hodge kill and an Iowa error put Penn State two points closer to a win, 23-13. Two kills by Iowa's Becky Walters and one each from Megan Schipper and Tiffany Nilges had the Hawkeyes within six, but Penn State closed out the set with a kill and a block for a 25-17 victory. The Hawkeyes took a 4-1 lead in the second set, but soon after Penn State was within one, 5-4, thanks to a Balza kill. The Nittany Lions did not take the lead until a D'Errico ace gave them a slim 7-6 edge. Penn State increased its lead to three, 11-8, after two Wilson kills and one from Brown. Iowa setter Mara Hilgenberg answered with a kill to bring the Hawkeyes within two, 11-9, but an Iowa error and a PSU ace put the Nittany Lions up by four, 13-9. The Hawkeyes soon found themselves within one, 13-12, courtesy of two PSU errors and another Walters kill. Brown kept Iowa at bay with a kill and Schipper registered an attack error to give the Nittany Lions some room to breathe. The breathing room was short-lived as Iowa tied the set, 16-16, after a Husz kill and a Penn State attack error. The score tied twice more, but Penn State was soon ahead by two, 20-18, with a Hodge kill straight down the line. After a Hawkeye timeout, a PSU kill and an error by Nilges gave Penn State a four-point lead, 23-19. Iowa came within two, 24-22, thanks to a kill by Aimee Huffman. Brown secured the set for Penn State with a kill, 25-22. Wilson opened the third set with a kill before an Iowa error had Penn State leading 2-0 early. A Penn State error put the Hawkeyes on the board, but the Nittany Lions notched two points on a kill and a block for a 4-1 advantage. Penn State increased its lead to five, 7-2, on a monster kill by Hodge, but two Schipper kills and a Nittany Lions error had the Hawkeyes within two, 8-6. A block by Husz and Hilgenberg brought the Hawkeyes within one, 8-7, but Brown put one away to put Penn State back ahead by two, 9-7. Penn State went on to tally seven straight points for a 16-7 advantage and Iowa took a timeout. After the timeout, Emma Kittle and Husz teamed up for a block to make it 16-8. Brown answered with a kill to keep Penn State ahead by nine, 17-8. Penn State's lead grew to double-digits, 18-8, on a triple block, but two PSU errors had Iowa within seven, 18-11. Errors began to plague the Hawkeyes as the set began to come to a close giving Penn State a 23-12 lead. One kill each by Wilson and Hodge gave Penn State a 25-13 third set triumph. The Nittany Lions are back in action Friday, Nov. 13 versus nationally-ranked Illinois. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State welcomes Northwestern to Rec Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14 for a 7 p.m. matchup. Live stats and live audio will be available for both matches via a link at GoPSUsports.com. For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2009 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets At Hershey.

NU wraps up second place with win over MSU

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:27:00 +0000

EVANSTON, Ill. - Junior forward Matt Eliason's 13th goal of the season just over five minutes in the match held up as No. 17 Northwestern concluded its regular season Saturday with a 1-0 win over Michigan State at Lakeside Field. The victory allowed the Wildcats to finish their Big Ten season with a 3-2-1 record, good for a second-place tie with Penn State. Entering the day, NU had an opportunity to win a share of the conference title if Ohio State were to lose or tie Michigan. However, the Buckeyes earned a 1-0 victory to claim the outright title and the No. 1 seed for next week's Big Ten tournament. Northwestern (10-3-4, 3-2-1) will be seeded third for the tourney and will face off again against the sixth-seeded Spartans (10-6-2, 2-4-0) in Thursday's opening round. As he has done all year, Eliason provided the heroics. On Senior Night, redshirt junior Kevin Valenta fed a ball through the box to Eliason who found himself one-on-one with Jeremy Clark and beat him for the score. It was Eliason's 30th goal of his career, tying him with Jonathan Hall (1986-89) for the school's all-time lead. The Wildcats would finish the opening half of play with an 8-3 advantage in shots. Michigan State came out t he aggressor following the intermission and controlled possession, but Northwestern was able to prevent the visitors from earning any quality scoring chances. The Spartans' closest call came in the final 30 seconds of as Cyrus Saydee fired a shot on goal, but a Wildcat defender was in the right place at the right time to make the stop and preserve the win. NU finished with a 13-9 edge in shots, while MSU had a 9-5 advantage in corner kicks. Misha Rosenthal made two saves to earn his sixth shutout of the season and the 29th of his career.

Illini's Williams gets high marks from teammates

Mark Tupper — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When we sat down with Juice Williams back in late July, it was with bright eyes and an optimistic smile that he spoke of the Illini football season to come. It was weeks before the start of his senior year. He was coming off a junior season in which he broke the school record for single-season total offense, threw 22 touchdown passes (third most in school history) and had six 250-yard passing games. He'd been named second-team all-Big Ten and pro scouts sized him up as an interesting prospect who could rise up the charts with a productive senior year. His fiancé, Chez Chambers, and young daughter, LaChez, were doing well. It was a good time to be Juice Williams. But athletics is an uncertain road, and the one the Illini football team has followed this fall has been filled with potholes. The team is 1-6 going into Saturday's home game against Michigan. Juice Williams has had an awful season, one in which we've only had one or two glimpses of the confident quarterback we expected to see. Rather than the unquestioned starter, he's now one of two quarterbacks who will run the offense the rest of the way. And there's no guarantee the starter Saturday won't be a redshirt freshman who saw his first collegiate action last week. When this season was first unraveling, Williams continued to be a standup guy who faced the media after defeat and thoughtfully addressed questions about the latest disappointment. That can't be easy and it can't be fun. And lately, it apparently has become intolerable. After the last two losses - at Indiana and at Purdue - Williams did not answer the bell in postgame interview sessions. And the weekly media teleconference the last two Mondays, of which Williams had been a regular participant, was canceled altogether. So I cannot accurately tell you whether those bright eyes have dimmed or that optimistic smile has faded. But I can tell you that his teammates and his coach say he has handled the disappointment like a champion. "I mean this," coach Ron Zook said Tuesday. "If I had a son, I would want my son to be on this team if for no other reason than to see how (Williams) is handling it. It's unbelievable to see how he is handling it. "I had a long talk with Juice yesterday. He wants to win. He's pulling his hair out. It's a confidence issue and you know if you've ever had your confidence shaken in anything. He has to overcome that stuff and as coaches, we have to help him do that. "He has done it before and he can do it again." When Williams is in the game, he lines up behind senior center Eric Block, and on Tuesday Block said you'd never know Williams has been through such a tough season. "Juice is a team player, first and foremost," Block said. "He'll do whatever he can to help the team. He's just that kind of guy, a class act. And he has been since the day he got here. There won't be any griping from Juice." On Saturday, Zook said Williams and Jacob Charest will split time at quarterback. I think everyone would like to see Charest perform well, if only because it would represent a ray of hope for the future. But I'm guessing that nothing would please Zook more than to see Williams have a performance that flashes back to what happened last season when he helped Illinois beat the Wolverines. That's when he passed for 310 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 121 yards and two more TDs. His 431 yards represented the largest total offense figure ever produced in the history of Michigan Stadium. Seems like an awful long time ago, back when Isiah "Juice" Williams still had a smile we could remember. Mark Tupper covers Illini football for Lee News Services. Contact him at mark.tupper@lee.net Copyright 2009 The Pantagraph

Conference names all-Big Ten field hockey team

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:30:00 +0000

PARK RIDGE, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference office announced the 2009 All-Big Ten field hockey teams and individual awards Thursday, with 2009 conference champion Michigan State winning two individual honors. Spartan senior Floor Rijpma was a unanimous choice for Offensive Player of the Year while her coach, Rolf van de Kerkhof, was honored as Coach of the Year. Additionally, Ohio State's Berta Queralt was named the conference's Freshman of the Year, and Iowa senior Meghan Beamesderfer was crowned the Defensive Player of the Year. The wins for Rijpma and van de Kerkhof mark the second time Michigan State has won the Offensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards, respectively. The Spartans won both awards in 2001. Beamesderfer is the second Iowa student-athlete to win Defensive Player of the Year in the last five years, as Heather Schnepf won the award in 2005 and 2006. Queralt gives Ohio State its first Freshman of the Year since 2003. Beamesderfer and Rijpma were unanimous choices for the All-Big Ten first team, along with Indiana midfielder Meg O'Connell. Joining the trio on the conference's first team were Indiana's Corey Brautigam, Iowa's Tricia Dean, Michigan's Meredith Way, Michigan State's Jeamie Deacon, Northwestern's Chelsea Armstrong, and the Ohio State trio of Aisling Coyle, Queralt and goalkeeper Lindsay Quintiliani. Deacon earns her third straight All-Big Ten first team citation, and Rijpma makes her second straight appearance, while Beamesderfer, Coyle, O'Connell and Way moved up from last year's second team. Named to the All-Big Ten second team were Indiana's Morgan Fleetwood, Michigan's Paige Laytos and Alicia Mayer, Michigan State's Jantine Steinmetz and Manouk Vernij, Northwestern's Elizabeth Dobbs and Courtney Plaster-Strange, Ohio State's Maria Briones, and Penn State's Laura Cahill and Bethany Marvel. The second team goalkeeper is Michigan State's Elissa Unger. Additionally, the conference named the field hockey Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honorees. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. The 2009 honorees are Indiana's Jaclyn Milici, Iowa's Becca Spengler, Michigan's Jenner Johnson, Michigan State's Julie Mackay, Northwestern's Stacy Uchida, Ohio State's Jenn Sciulli, and Penn State's Christine Dudek. 2009 All-Big Ten Teams First Team MEG O'CONNELL, Sr., midfield, IND Corey Brautigam, So., midfield, IND MEGHAN BEAMESDERFER, Sr., defense, IOWA Tricia Dean, Sr., midfield, IOWA Meredith Way, Jr., midfield, MICH FLOOR RIJPMA, Sr., forward, MSU Jeamie Deacon, Sr., midfield, MSU Chelsea Armstrong, So., forward, NU Aisling Coyle, So., midfield, OSU Berta Queralt, Fr., forward, OSU Lindsay Quintiliani, Sr., goalkeeper, OSU Second Team Morgan Fleetwood, Fr., forward, IND Paige Laytos, Jr., midfield, MICH Alicia Mayer, Jr., forward, MICH Jantine Steinmetz, Jr., forward, MSU Elissa Unger, Sr., goalkeeper, MSU Manouk Vernij, Fr., midfield, MSU Elizabeth Dobbs, Sr., forward, NU Courtney Plaster-Strange, Sr., forward, NU Maria Briones, So., forward, OSU Laura Cahill, Sr., defense, PSU Bethany Marvel, Fr., midfield, PSU Offensive Player of the Year : FLOOR RIJPMA, MSU Defensive Player of the Year : Meghan Beamesderfer, IOWA Freshman of the Year : Berta Queralt, OSU Coach of the Year : Rolf van de Kerkhof, MSU Sportsmanship Award Honorees Jaclyn Milici, IND Becca Spengler, IOWA Jenner Johnson, MICH Julie Mackay, MSU Stacy Uchida, NU Jenn Sciulli, OSU Christine Dudek, PSU Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

Revsine's Numbers: Go inside the stats

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Revsine writes: "The craziest thing to come out of last week from a numerical point-of-view was the seemingly out of nowhere reawakening of the dormant offenses at Illinois and Minnesota, who, in an interesting coincidence, go head to head this weekend." Read much more ...

NCAA clears Indiana freshman to play basketball

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:50:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.(AP) Indiana freshman Bawa Muniru has been cleared by the NCAA to play college basketball this season. The Hoosiers had been waiting for the NCAA's eligibility center to make its ruling on Muniru, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center from Tumu, Ghana. Muniru played high school ball the last two seasons in the U.S. The decision takes immediate effect. Coach Tom Crean said he understood it would take the NCAA time to do a thorough review and appreciated the work done both by the eligibility center and compliance officials at Indiana. The Hoosiers host St. Joseph's in their final exhibition Monday night, then open the season at home against Howard on Nov. 13.

Hoosiers hope Wisconsin game spurs bowl push

MICHAEL MAROT — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.(AP) At Indiana, it comes down to this. Forget the blown leads, the narrow loss at Michigan, even the questionable calls. The Hoosiers can still become bowl-eligible with two wins in their last three games, starting Saturday with No. 24 Wisconsin. "We do realize it's still there, we still have an opportunity,'' defensive end Jammie Kirlew said. "As a senior, we feel we've put this team in the right direction, but going to a bowl game would be the icing.'' The Hoosiers (4-5, 1-4 Big Ten) are running out of chances. Two weeks ago, Indiana turned a 25-point first-half lead at Northwestern into a 29-28 loss. Last week at No. 7 Iowa, the Hoosiers again had a double-digit lead in the first half and again after three quarters but gave up four fourth-quarter touchdowns and went home with a 42-24 loss. Winning either would have been a boon to Indiana's bowl hopes. Instead, the Hoosiers face a daunting three-game stretch. First up, the newly ranked Badgers (6-2, 3-2) who haven't lost to an unranked foe all season. Then Indiana heads to No. 11 Penn State, a team it is 0-12 against all-time. On Nov. 21, they're back home against rival Purdue, which has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series including last year's 52-point sendoff for Purdue coach Joe Tiller. That leaves Indiana with no margin for error. "I don't feel any pressure because we'll be the underdog like we are every game,'' receiver Mitchell Evans said. "I think the pressure is on them.'' The reality is that Wisconsin is already bowl-eligible and after snapping a two-game losing streak with a shutout of Purdue last week, the Badgers can focus on improving their postseason resume by adding to the lopsidedness of this series. Wisconsin has won four straight over Indiana, including an embarrassing 55-20 blowout in Bloomington last year. The Badgers ran for 441 yards and had three 100-yard runners that day, the third straight game in this series Wisconsin won 30 points or more. Badgers coach Bret Bielema thinks those results will provide even more motivation for the Hoosiers this week. "I know what we're going to see on Saturday because we've had a little bit of success on them the last couple years,'' Bielema said. "I know they're going to come in, or when we go over there, they're going to be very hungry to play us.'' The Hoosiers have a pretty good idea what they'll get from Wisconsin, too - a hefty dose of power football. A year ago, 248-pound running back John Clay burned the Hoosiers for 112 yards and one touchdown. This year, Clay leads the Big Ten with 104.9 yards rushing per game and ranks among the national leaders with 10 TDs rushing. With Indiana allowing more than 145 yards per game and 15 touchdowns on the ground, there's little reason for the Badgers to change plans. Yet if Indiana overcompensates against the run, the Badgers may take advantage of the Hoosiers' banged-up secondary. Adrian Burks will replace Indiana's top cornerback, Ray Fisher, in the starting lineup after Fisher had knee surgery this week. The other cornerback, Donnell Jones, is expected to play with a brace on his injured elbow for the second straight week, and safety Nick Polk, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, is listed as questionable. It wouldn't surprise Lynch, who this week reflected on how the Badgers beat them through the air in 2006. "They can get you in a lot of different ways,'' Lynch said. "The first thing you think about is their power running game. This is the one (team) that really lines up and runs power football. They've always had big backs, but they can really get you with the pass, too.'' Or in the second half. Indiana's late struggles have again resurfaced. Northwestern and Iowa outscored Indiana 47-3 in the second half the past two weeks, and now the Hoosiers get a Wisconsin team that outscored them 31-0 in the final two quarters last year. None of that is a good omen for the Hoosiers. Then again, only one thing matters in Bloomington. "There's pressure every game but we really feel it as a senior class because we want this (a bowl bid),'' Kirlew said. "We want it to happen so much. If we bring that intensity for four quarters, I think we'll be more than ready.''

No. 8 Iowa not looking past Northwestern

LUKE MEREDITH — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Much of the buzz surrounding No. 8 Iowa has been about its resume, and whether the Hawkeyes can truly be considered national title contenders when they keep sneaking past everyone. Throw in a showdown with No. 15 Ohio State in Columbus next week that could determine the Big Ten title and Saturday's home date with Northwestern (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) has all the makings of the classic trap game. Let's be honest, though. Every week's a trap game for Iowa. The Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) have survived them all so far, despite key injuries and fourth-quarter deficits in four of the nine games. ``I think we're getting great leadership,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ``I think the team overall gets it. I'm not taking anything for granted. But I think they understand we're going to be up against it week in and week out.'' This weekend should be no different, even if the Wildcats' hopes for an upset rest on the tender left hamstring of quarterback Mike Kafka. Kafka tweaked the hamstring last week against No. 11 Penn State with the Wildcats ahead 10-3. Sophomore backup Dan Persa led Northwestern to just a field goal after that as the Nittany Lions rolled to a 34-13 win. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said he expects Kafka to play, though Persa was listed as the co-starter on a depth chart released this week. Few players in the Big Ten are as important to their team as Kafka is to Northwestern. He leads all Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yardage, completions, completion percentage and total offense, and he leads the Wildcats in rushing with 248 yards and six touchdowns. Despite Kafka's heroics, Northwestern ranks just 74th in the nation with 25.7 points per game and will face a stout Iowa defense Saturday. Iowa allowed Indiana to score just 10 points following six Hawkeyes turnovers in last week's 42-24 win. The Hawkeyes have also forced 26 turnovers this season, including 18 interceptions. ``Iowa is one of those teams you can set your watch by what they're going to do from a schematic standpoint,'' Fitzgerald said. ``They do what they do very well.'' The Hawkeyes offense has been all over the map this season, which in many ways is related to the performance of quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi had one of the worst quarters an Iowa signal caller has ever had last week, throwing four picks in the third as Indiana jumped ahead 24-14 and seemed poised to end the Hawkeyes dream season. But with the unwavering support of Ferentz, Stanzi bounced back with two quick TD throws and Iowa scored 28 points in the fourth quarter - more than they had scored in all but two games up to that point. The Hawkeyes, who have scored exactly as many points as Northwestern this season, have battled through injuries all season. They are down to their last proven running back, true freshman Brandon Wegher - though he responded with a career-best 118 yards rushing and three TDs last week. ``I think Brandon's pretty comfortable and has been,'' Ferentz said. ``You have to be patient. I think that's offense in general. You have to have patience and a lot of people don't.'' Anyone who believes that Iowa will simply cruise past Northwestern at home clearly hasn't seen the Hawkeyes play this season or doesn't know the series' recent history. Northwestern has won three of the last four in the series, stopping Iowa four times inside the Wildcats 10-yard line late in a 22-17 win in Iowa City in 2008. ``We're doing a good job of focusing on who we've got the next week,'' said Iowa wide receiver Trey Stross. ``Close games definitely make you a little nervous.''

Odrick at center of Penn State-Ohio State

Bernard Fernadez — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

THEY ARE ALL big and powerful. You don't cut it as a lineman in a major college program unless you meet certain requirements in terms of size and strength. But XXXL physical dimensions are about the only tie that binds offensive linemen to their rowdier defensive counterparts. A mental divide separates those who play on one side of the ball or the other, a divide created by a player's natural proclivities or a coach's assessment of his nature. Almost everyone agrees that Saturday afternoon's nationally televised Big Ten showdown between No. 11 Penn State (8-1, 4-1) and No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) in Beaver Stadium will be another low-scoring war of attrition, settled in the trenches by straining giants. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are ranked first and second in the conference in virtually every team defensive category, which suggests another round of smash-mouth football. First group to hammer a crack in the other side's Wall of Jericho triumphs. "It's almost always a situation that comes down to whoever's offensive line does the best job of controlling the defense is going to win," judged Penn State senior left tackle Dennis Landolt, of South Jersey's Holy Cross High. That's one way of looking at it. The opposing view, of course, is that whoever's defensive line does the best job of controlling the offense is going to win. The objective is the same, but the path to that common goal is often altered by perspective. It is axiomatic that offensive linemen and defensive linemen are, well, different. The prevailing image of o-linemen is that of orderly types who knot their ties just so, hang their clothes neatly and are very good at following directions. The best blocking fronts are all about cohesion. D-linemen are rumpled, wild-eyed reactionaries. Oh, sure, there are general scripts they are asked to memorize, but rewrites of the game plan can occur on every snap. "A mental component? I'm not sure," Penn State senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick said when asked what ultimately determines whether a lineman is more suited to offense or defense. "As a defensive lineman, you always have to have the mind-set that you want to play fast, you want to play reckless. It's all about reaction and being able to go full speed. If a play goes in the opposite direction or if something happens that you weren't expecting, you have to be able to react and adjust. "On offense, you know the play that's been called. You know the snap count. You see where the defense is lined up. You have to react on offense, but not nearly as much as you do on defense." The 6-5, 306-pound Odrick is a bundle of combustible energy. Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and d-line coach Larry Johnson both call him the best three-technique player in the country, but that defines the scope of his duties too narrowly. Odrick is the subject of more game-planning by opposing coaches than any other Penn State defensive player; he has to fight through double-teams on almost every play, as guys in different-colored jerseys come at him from myriad directions. The price Odrick pays for all that attention is that he frequently gives up his body so that a teammate can fill a hole and make the stop. But every now and then, his power and quickness enable him to defeat the combo blocks, resulting in a sack or a tackle for loss. And those occasions are the most satisfying of all . . . fun, even. Odrick has played defense since he arrived in Happy Valley in 2006, but part of the reason for Penn State's tradition of success is that the veteran coaching staff is so astute at making position changes that bring out the best in every player. Levi Brown was an All-America left tackle at Penn State and the Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 2007, but the 6-5, 328-pounder acknowledged being disappointed when he was told, after redshirting as a freshman in 2002, that he was switching to offense. "I loved playing defense," Brown said before his senior season with the Nits. "On defense, you just go get whoever has the ball. You can take off the wrong way, but as long as you get in on the play, everything's OK. "Offense is different. There are more rules for offensive linemen. You can't hold. On defense, you can pull, you can hold, throw guys on the ground if you want. On offense, you have to be more controlled. You have to keep things more on the inside." Reminded of Brown's initial reluctance to switch, Odrick said he understood. "Levi wanted to be a defensive tackle, so I can see where he was upset," Odrick said. "But I'm pretty sure he's not upset now." * Copyright 2009 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLCAll Rights Reserved

Pryor, Clark took different paths to QB jobs

GENARO C. ARMAS — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0000

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.(AP) Lost in the hoopla over Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's trip home to Pennsylvania this weekend is the story of how Penn State found its own signal-caller in the Buckeyes' backyard. Cool in the pocket and confident in the locker room, Youngstown, Ohio-native Daryll Clark has turned into a star with the No. 11 Nittany Lions (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten). Pryor's visit Saturday to Beaver Stadium will be his first since signing with No. 15 Ohio State (7-2, 4-1) more than 18 months ago to end a heated recruiting race. Still, things have turned out just fine in Happy Valley. "I've tried to say time and time again ... I think Daryll Clark has been an outstanding performer for us,'' Penn State coach Joe Paterno said this week before adding his signature phrase reserved for his favorite Nittany Lions. "Daryll Clark is one heck of a football player.'' Penn State is 19-3 since Clark took over as the starter in 2008. Clark's 37 career touchdown passes are four shy of tying the school record, and his 20 rushing touchdowns ties him with mentor Michael Robinson for most TDs on the ground by a Nittany Lions QB. And to think, just two years ago, hardcore Penn State fans were giddy about pursuing Pryor, the quarterback phenom out of Jeannette, Pa. What was not to love about Pryor? A 6-foot-6 phenom from a western Pennsylvania region known as the Cradle of Quarterbacks for producing the likes of Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Joe Namath, Pryor was the only player in state high school history to rush for more than 4,000 yards and throw for more than 4,000 in a career. In contrast, Clark was a mid-level recruit upon graduating from Ursuline High in Youngstown in 2004. "Clark was a completely under-the-radar kind of guy,'' said Mark Brennan, the editor of FightonState.com, which covers Penn State recruiting. ``People knew about him, but he was not the kind of five-star, all-everything prospect that Pryor was.'' After spending a year in prep school to brush up on grades, Clark joined the Nittany Lions in 2006, the first of two seasons backing up Anthony Morelli - himself a highly touted QB from western Pennsylvania. The Pryor recruiting sweepstakes followed the next year. Clark helped out trying to lure a prospect who could potentially leapfrog him on the depth chart. "That was kind of a difficult time for him. ... He felt a little uncomfortable,'' Clark's father, Daryll Clark, Sr., said in a phone interview. "But he handled it well. He played his part.'' The ending is well-known now in Big Ten circles. Pryor couldn't make a choice by the February 2008 date that opened the formal signing period, and took about another month before deciding on Ohio State over Penn State, Michigan and Oregon. But that still didn't clear the way for Clark in Happy Valley. Also on the Penn State roster at the time was highly touted sophomore Pat Devlin, who had set the Pennsylvania career prep passing record with 8,162 yards at Downingtown East. Clark finally secured the starting job after outplaying Devlin in 2008 preseason camp. Clark may not have the explosive running ability that Robinson had, but he is the more polished passer with the ability to scramble out of trouble and bowl over defenders if needed. "Offensively they have the blessing of having a very veteran quarterback who you've seen grow as each year's gone,'' Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. There have been some knocks on Clark, as expected with the high-profile job of Penn State starting quarterback. Most notably, some critics or columnists will point out that Clark has faltered in some big games. Arguably his two worst performances of his career have come in losses to Iowa in September and last season. He threw two picks in the final three minutes of the Rose Bowl loss last season against Southern California as Penn State tried to rally from a back from a 24-point deficit. Clark was mostly ineffective before being knocked out in the third quarter of last season's win at Ohio State because of a concussion. Devlin ran for the go-ahead touchdown in relief. Recruiting-wise though, Clark's emergence and Devlin's transfer last year seems to have made it easier for Penn State to land dual-threat prospects, said Mike Farrell, an analyst with Rivals.com. Touted freshman Kevin Newsome is now Clark's backup, and Penn State has verbal commitments from two prized recruits in next year's class. Depending on how those prospects pan out, ``losing Pryor might not hurt them at all,'' Farrell said. Instead of tutoring Pryor as a teammate, Clark will be facing him Saturday. Pryor, a sophomore, would like nothing better than to atone for his fourth-quarter fumble last season against the Nittany Lions that set up Devlin's score. A good outing could placate critics who blame Pryor for Ohio State's struggles, as well as silence Penn State fans expected to shower him with taunts. "I'm sure they're going to be giving me a lot of stuff, saying a lot of things, but I won't hear any of it,'' Pryor said last weekend after a 45-0 rout of New Mexico State. Clark, a senior, would like to play well in his last game against his home-state rivals, and get his team back to the BCS. His proud father will be in the stands to root him on. "People in this area, us being from Ohio, a lot of people that know us and our family, they want the Buckeyes to win,'' Clark's father said, 'but they want Daryll to do well.''

Live Big Ten Field Hockey Championship coverage

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:49:00 +0000

Live Big Ten Field Hockey Championship coverage

Indiana overcomes slow start, drills Grace

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:45:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana had six players score in double figures and scored 20 second half points off of turnovers and 14 via the fastbreak in the final 20 minutes as the Hoosiers pulled away from NAIA power Grace (Indiana), 96-73, in front of 15,453 in Assembly Hall. "We've got a long way to go," said Indiana Coach Tom Crean. "There is a lot of room to improve; a lot of things we do we have not even covered in practice yet. But I love their mindset; I love their attitude; I love their desire to get better. I thought they were competitive." The Hoosiers, who begin their second season under Crean, saw freshmen and sophomores tally 81 of the squad's 96 points collectively. In addition, nine players saw at least 13 minutes of action, with none playing more than 27 minutes (Verdell Jones III). Six players scored in double figures led by freshman Christian Watford who finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Jordan Hulls had 14 points, three assists and three steals, junior Jeremiah Rivers had 12 points, 10 in the second half, freshman Derek Elston had 10 points and seven boards, while Jones had 10 points and eight assists. "I thought we were unselfish," noted Crean. "I thought they really moved the ball well. I didn't think we took any real arrogant shots. I thought they really tried to understand how to get into the bonus and what to do once we were in the bonus. That is one of the ways we have to play. I thought they got better as the game went on." Watford scored on a conventional three-point play off of the opening tip, but the Lancers, led by long distance shooter David Henry, were able to hang tough throughout the first half, leading 16-12 on a layup by David Swanson with 15:59 to go. There were nine ties in the first half, with the last coming on a triple by Grace's Elliot Smith with 1:33 to go in the half at 36-36. The Hoosiers would score the last six points of the half on a jumper by Hulls, a steal by Maurice Creek and a basket by Elston, and a second steal by Creek who made a layup at the buzzer to make it 42-36 at halftime. "We are a young team and it takes awhile for them to grasp," added Crean. "We knew that we would be pushed because of how well Grace runs their offense. We certainly weren't surprised by that. That is good for us to learn how fast we have to run it in practice. I thought we pressured the ball and we thought at halftime if we could keep that pressure up there would come a point in the game around the middle of the second half that we would be able to wear them down." For five more minutes, Grace put up quite a fight and when Smith made two free throws, he cut the IU lead to 48-46 with 15:22 to go. The Hoosiers would then go on a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to break it open. Indiana would put the game away for good when Rivers would make back-to-back dunks to make it 73-55 for the Cream and Crimson with 7:51 remaining. For Crean, it also gave him an opportunity to empty as bench as all 13 players who were healthy were able to see some action on the floor. "Our teaching is on-going," said Crean. "There is no question about it. In a game like this, you are playing hard and you are going at it but you are also trying to make teaching points. There were a lot of basic mistakes that young people are going to make. And the opportunity to go through it in a game, the opportunity to correct it in a game, and then most importantly the opportunity to show it on film and get it corrected in practice is where the real teaching value is." The Hoosiers will host Saint Joseph's (Indiana) College at 7 p.m., Monday, November 9 before opening the season on Friday, November 13 against Howard. "I thought the crowd was awesome," said Crean. "I've coached in front of big crowds but never a bigger crowd than that for me personally in an exhibition game. Very thankful for the way the fans turned out for them."

No. 16 Ohio State rolls in exhibition, 86-48

Rusty Miller — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:47:00 +0000

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) Evan Turner had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and No. 16 Ohio State shot 63 percent from the field in beating Walsh 86-48 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. Eleven players scored for the Buckeyes, who open their season on Monday against Alcorn State in the 2K Sports Classic. William Buford added 15 points, David Lighty had 11 and Jeremie Simmons and Jon Diebler had 10 apiece for the Buckeyes, who went 22-11 and lost to Siena in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. Lighty played his first game since breaking a bone in his foot early last season. Ricky Jackson led Walsh with 14 points. Kyle Madsen started at center for Ohio State in place of Dallas Lauderdale, out with a broken finger.

Late penalty kick dooms MSU vs. No. 1 Akron

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

AKRON, Ohio - The Michigan State men's soccer team played the No. 1 Akron Zips even through nearly 75 minutes on Wednesday evening. However, with the score tied at one with 15 minutes left in the second half, a Spartan foul inside the penalty area gave the Zips a penalty-kick goal and a 2-1 win. MSU is now 10-5-2 on the year, while Akron remains undefeated at 17-0. "The guys played great tonight," said MSU coach Damon Rensing. "It was a great college soccer game and it's unfortunate that the winning goal came on a penalty kick. We stuck to our game plan and Akron is very good, well organized team. All-in-all, we played the top team in the country very well." The Zips didn't take long to get going, as less than four minutes in, Akron's Teal Burnbury scored on a chip shot from 20 yards out for a 1-0 lead. As the two teams settled in, the each traded scoring chances. Akron held a slight, 5-4, shot advantage after the goal until the 39th minute when Spencer Thompson set up Tim Granaderos to tie the game for MSU. Thompson's cross from the left side found Granaderos who buried the ball in the back of the net from eight yards out and gave the Spartans a big lift heading into halftime. The two teams played evenly through the first 30 minutes of the second half, until the turning point in the 75th minute when a yellow card was issued to the Spartans' Nosa Iyoha for a foul inside the penalty area - leading to a Zips' penalty kick. Akron's Blair Gavin converted the PK, giving the Zips the lead for good. "We created a few more chances in the first half," Rensing said. "I thought our backs were very good, the midfield played great and Jeff Ricondo and Rubin Bega were very good up top. We just missed on a couple finishing passes."

Purdue tops Indiana, 3-1, retains trophy

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:26:00 +0000

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Boilermaker volleyball team exacted revenge on the Indiana Hoosiers on Wednesday night, downing IU 3-1 to keep the Monon Spike travelling trophy in West Lafayette for another year. Purdue won the match 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19 to even the season series and win the Spike match for the 24th time in 36 tries. The Boilermakers have now topped the Hoosiers in 12 of the last 14 meetings. Freshman Ariel Turner paced the Purdue offense with 12 kills, while fellow rookie Anna Drewry added 10. Senior Carrie Gurnell chipped in nine kills, while juniors Kristen Arthurs and Jaclyn Hart tallied eight and seven respectively. The Boilermakers outhit the Hoosiers .289 to .173. Defensively, Purdue outblocked Indiana 17.5 to six and outdug the Hoosiers 55 to 46. At the net, Arthurs and Drewry registered eight blocks apiece and Hart added six. In the backcourt, sophomore Emily Ehlers racked up 24 digs, while freshman Carly Cramer added 10. The Hoosiers led early in the first set, but Purdue tied it up at 5-5 on a block by Arthurs and Hart. Indiana built a four-point advantage at 13-9 after a run including two aces. Purdue fought back to make it 14-14 after a Turner kill and an IU hitting error. The teams would tie again at 18 on a Gurnell putaway, but Indiana scored seven of the last 10 to clinch the 25-20 win. The Hoosiers were credited with six aces in the stanza. The Boilermakers bounced back in the second set, racking up seven and a half blocks and hitting .367 en route to a 25-23 win. Purdue went up 4-2 after kills by Drewry and Turner and a solo block by Hart. The Hoosiers tied it up at six, but the Boilermakers pushed ahead to a 12-8 advantage after a stuff by Drewry, Arthurs and Turner. Indiana battled back with a 11-5 run to take a 19-17 lead of its own. Purdue countered with six of the next eight points, including three blocks, to reach their first set point attempt at 24-22. Hart and Fisher combined on two of the rejections, while Fisher tallied a solo stuff on the third. A service error kept the set going, but Gurnell pounded down the final point of the win. Purdue led 3-2 to start the third set as Arthurs, Turner and Drewry posted kills. After a tie at 4-4, The Hoosiers scored six of the next seven, including a 5-0 run, to go up 10-5. The Boilermakers charged back to tie it up at 11-11 after a series which included three Gurnell kills and a block by Drewry and Arthurs. The teams tied at 12 and 13, before Purdue took advantage of an IU ball handling error to gain a 14-13 lead. Indiana led briefly at 16-15 and 18-17, but after that it was nearly all Boilermakers. Purdue snapped a 19-19 tie with three straight points, a kill by Arthurs and two Hoosier hitting miscues. An Indiana kill slowed the effort momentarily, but kills from Drewry and Turner put Purdue on the hill at 24-20. The pair combined for a block to cap the 25-20 win. The Boilermakers scored seven of the first 10 points in Set 4. The Hoosiers came back to tie it at eight and nine, but Purdue never relinquished control. From the tie at nine, Purdue scored seven straight, including kills by Arthurs, Turner and Drewry and an ace by Cramer. The Boilermakers upped their advantage to nine at 21-12 after back to back IU errors. Indiana would not give in, scoring seven of the next nine, narrowing the gap to 23-19. Hart put down a kill and then served up the ace for the 25-19 win. Drewry was 4-for-4 in the stanza, while Hart chipped in three kills. Purdue outhit Indiana .320 to .071 in the final stanza. Purdue (12-12, 4-9 Big Ten) returns to action at 2 p.m. Sunday when it takes on No. 12 Minnesota in Minneapolis. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network and will be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. ET.